About the Course
This course is offered by the NASA Planetary Protection Office and focuses on familiarizing current and future planetary protection practitioners with NASA and COSPAR policies and practices. The course is held annually at Kennedy Space Center in the United States, and once a year in Europe. This course provides a comprehensive review of all applicable policies, practices, and procedures required to implement a successful planetary protection program, and emphasizes an integration of managerial, administrative, and laboratory activities.

This course is designed for managers, engineers, designers, lab technicians, and others interested in the theory and application of planetary protection principles. Participants will learn how personnel with diverse skill sets and responsibilities are coordinated to implement successful and compliant programs. The course also provides hands-on training in microbial sampling and data management. The planetary protection course is taught by experts in the field with years of practical experience in all aspects of planetary protection, and is supported by the NASA Planetary Protection Office.